These gaps can be filled by creating a robust institutional framework for logistics manpower, creation of incentives for the development of skills for logistics employees, boosting the image of the industry as a whole and acceleration of the drivers of consolidation, integration, and organization in the industry.
Market leaders need to step up and pool their resources and establish a central logistics institute or a network of institutes in collaboration with the government. Industry players need to support the execution of these institutes with practical, ‘hands-on’ training of aspirants in real time environments.
Further, for a section of career-oriented female staff, a push towards the training and development under areas such as legal aspects related to Air/ Marine /Ware housings etc., product knowledge around Schedules, Routing, Networks, Equipment, Pricing, Financial and Capital Management of the Company, Dispute Resolution Mechanism and Human Capital Management can definitely prove to be a great entry point for them.
The large players need to consolidate small players for the industry to move from unorganized to become organized. The government needs to push for further liberalization of foreign investment that will enable MNCs to expand and outsource operations to India. There needs to be more transparency of data between stakeholders - manufacturers, customs departments, logistic providers and retailers for better accountability as a whole. Industry needs to develop systems to curb costs, streamline processes and ensure smooth operations and monitoring. IT enables services that are intelligent and sensitive to changing customer expectations will be crucial for success.
The industry will have to invest in employee welfare and ensure safety measures are in place. Sharing the positive future-growth trajectory of Indian logistics with job aspirants on a mass scale through advertising will bolster employment demand. Creating government policies that encourage investment in training and work conditions by companies will be instrumental. Developing enabling infrastructure will help achieve efficiencies and encouraging public-private partnerships will give a boost and accountability to local infrastructure development.
Only when the market leaders, the government, industry associations and employees will come together, interact, introspect and implement, can we expect the tide to shift in their favor. Upskill training has a lot of benefits, from improving employee motivation to saving the company money. Logistics firms should invest in upskilling employees so they both can grow and thrive together.